Cuomo Faces Hurdle in New York Mayoral Primary with Zohran Mamdani Opposing His Comeback Bid

New York City Democrats will decide whether to reboot Andrew Cuomo's political career, elevate liberal Zohran Mamdani, or turn to a crowded field of lesser-known candidates for New York mayor. The vote takes place about four years after Cuomo resigned as governor following a sexual harassment scandal.

Cuomo has been the favorite throughout the race, with his deep experience, nearly universal name recognition, strong political connections, and juggernaut fundraising apparatus. However, Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, gained momentum by running a sharp campaign laser-focused on the city's high cost of living and secured endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The candidates were making a final push out in the city Tuesday, sweating it out with voters on a sizzling summer day. While preliminary returns will be released after the polls close at 9 p.m., a winner might not emerge for a week due to the city's ranked choice voting system.

The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump's Justice Department. Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, will be on the ballot in the fall's general election.

Cuomo and Mamdani could be stand-ins for the larger Democratic Party's ideological divide, though Cuomo's scandal-scarred past adds a unique tinge to the narrative. Comptroller Brad Lander made a splash last week when he was arrested after linking arms with a man federal agents were trying to detain at an immigration court.

Mamdani's energetic run has been hard not to notice, with his army of young hipster canvassers relentlessly knocking on doors throughout the city seeking support. Posters of his grinning mug were up on shop windows, and he would be the city's first Indian American and first Muslim mayor if elected.

Cuomo and some other Democrats have cast Mamdani as unqualified, saying he doesn't have the management chops to wrangle the city's sprawling bureaucracy or handle crises. Critics have also taken aim at Mamdani's support for Palestinian human rights.

In response, Mamdani has slammed Cuomo over his sexual harassment scandal and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In one heated debate exchange, Cuomo rattled off a long list of what he saw as Mamdani's managerial shortcomings, arguing that his opponent has never dealt with Congress or unions and never overseen an infrastructure project.

Mamdani had a counter ready: "To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace."